Pool Device Propulsion System

ABSTRACT

A pool device propulsion system that provides a focused stream of water through a programmable distribution portal that allows users to attach specific interchangeable receiving devices to experience various on-going water flows. A user&#39;s experience ranges from utilizing water based exercise equipment, to toys, floats and game devices along with other lifestyle attachments.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The technology associated with the common pool has exploded in recentdecades. Historically the residential pool was usually rectangular, withan old fashioned diving board. This original concept has migrated to afull entertainment experience through the use of waterfalls, wet decks,lagoons, surrounding rock and landscape formations, water features alongwith, LED lighting, fire pots, all of which can be integrated with homeautomation systems. With these innovations, the overall cost hasincreased by staggering proportions in which in many cases the optionscost exceed the hard cost of the fundamental components housing thewater. However, what is demonstrated through such is the fundamentaldemand that pool owners are continuing to enhance the pool and relatedentertainment experience.

Separately, the social migration into personal computing and relatedtechnology has limited the number of hours historically spent by poolusers in the pool by providing other entertainment options. Even withthese new entertainment options, swimming pool construction and use hascontinued to increase according to a report by the Association of Pooland Spa professionals, whereby, in the United States, more that 8.3million households own either an in-ground or above ground pool with andadditional 5-6 million other households with spa's. This number clearlydemonstrates that a market exists for this product.

In continuing to enhance the “pool experience”, we believe the PoolDevice Propulsion System (PDPS) provides both complementary and trulyinnovative new forms of exercise and entertainment to pool users alongwith combining certain other lifestyle genres or categories. The PDPSattachments fall into one of three product categories: Exercise,Toys/Games, and Lifestyle.

For Exercise, PDPS offers a new type of exercising which through thebuoyancy of water allows users of all ages to take part in variousexercise techniques. Relating to Toy's/Games, PDPS provides outdoorentertainment options for adults and children through its game/toycategory of options. Finally for Lifestyle, PDPS complements otherentertainment products by providing visual and physical experiencesthrough fountains, misting type systems, and furniture includingflotation devices with programmable water incorporations.

On how PDPS provides for such entertainment, the component features aredescribed in detail along with their related figures in the followingsections.

The need for PDPS can be broken down into these same genres:

-   -   Exercise—There is no existing technology for water based        resistance exercise programs where the equipment is fashioned        around the on-going propulsion of water to facilitate resistance        to the user.    -   Toy/Games—The existing water based toy's are all limited in        capacity, whereby, a finite amount of water can be utilized        until such devices need to be replenished. Existing games are        complementary to water, such as water polo or water volleyball,        but do not incorporate the use of water as part of the game or        challenge.    -   Lifestyle—Existing lifestyle furniture and floatation devices        again usually are placed onto or into the pool rather than        incorporating the pool water into such designs. Separately,        misting and fountains are using localized pumps and are not        attached to the pools on-going water system.

These issues along with the lack of interchangeability and on-going floware addressed by PDPS, whereas, an on-going regulated flow andintegration into the existing pressured system is made.

Finally, the development of PDPS placed significant emphasis on theAssociation of Pool and Spa Professional (APSP) safety guidelines.Engineering a new product for use by children and adults it was veryimportant to consider the operation and use of the PDPS needs tocontinue to provide a safe environment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based upon the problems associated with pool related products, the PDPSinvention resolves such problems by providing a focused stream of waterthrough a programmable distribution portal that allows users to attachspecific interchangeable receiving devices to experience variouson-going water flows. A user's experience ranges from utilizingwater-based exercise equipment, to toys, floats and game devices alongwith other lifestyle attachments. The following disclosures support thePDPS invention whose purpose is to enhance a user's pool experience byproviding programmable limitless streams of water tailored to thedesired attachment's needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The attached figures consist of the following and make reference to thedetailed description outlined below:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of the component parts, namely the in-groundor mechanical parts; the distribution parts which move water from thepumping mechanism to respective attachments; and the dispersion partsthat provide the intended pressure result to the pool user.

FIG. 2 details the in-ground component of the PDPS system which depictsthe distribution of water from the pumping station to a specificdistribution portal. The portal regulates a desired water pressurepursuant to the user's attachment selection. The portal also providesfor a receptor for interchangeable attachments located at the user'sdesired location adjacent to or near the existing pool machine pumpinglocations.

FIG. 3 details the in-pool distribution components of the PDPS system.PDPS provides users the ability to distribute through tubing technologythe pressurized water flow to all interchangeable PDPS devices.

FIG. 4. Details the dispersion components within PDPS attachments.

FIG. 5. Details the different types of attachment devices. Each of theseattachments receives varied levels of pressurized water to facilitate auser's desired experience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A pool device propulsion system (PDPS) provides a focused stream ofwater from the existing pool pumping equipment (9) to experience variouson-going exit water flows (21) through the use of various attachments.

Further explanation of operation through related figures:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of the component parts namely the in-ground ormechanical parts, or the distribution parts which move water from thepumping mechanism to respective attachments, and the dispersion partsthat provide the intended pressure result to the pool user. As detailedthe PDPS system distribution module (1) is controlled by a control panel(14) which can be located by existing pool equipment or can beintegrated into pool automation systems (at house line (13)) attached bycommunication encased wiring (12). Once operation has been indicated, adedicated PDPS pump (10) either attached or constructed as part of thecommon pool pumping equipment (9) allows pressurized water to flow (17)to the PDPS distribution module (1) via water piping (11) and thenentering at the device entry housing (2). Pursuant to automatedselection at the control panel (14) or through manual removal of theground access port (5) located as part of pool decking (8) and manualselection through the distribution valve (7) located in an valve housing(6), the pressurized water is directed to the pool access housing (3).The user will lift the housing door (4) to the pool access housing (3)to insert (screw-in) in the desired attachments, or as detailed afloating exercise bike attachment (19) located above and below the poolwater line (22). The user will insert the tubing end (16) into the poolaccess housing (3) and screw into housing using the grooved end (15)until tight. This allows a controlled pressured stream (17) to flowthrough the attachment flexible water flow tubing (18) to the desiredattachment (19). At the attachment end of the tubing (18) a connectionis made in similar fashion to attachment by providing pressurized waterto the attachment exit portals (20) which provide the desired water flowfor the user (21).

FIG. 2 details the in ground components of the PDPS system which detailsthe distribution of water from the pumping station to a specificdistribution module (1). The distribution module (1) regulates a desiredwater pressure pursuant to the user's attachment selection. The portalalso provides for a pool access housing (3) for interchangeableattachments located at the user's desired location. As depicted, thedistribution module (1) is located below the pool decking (8) commonlyunder pool coping or pavers. A ground access port (5) allows the user togain access to the distribution valve (7) located in the valve housing(6). A user can manually move the distribution valve (7) to differentvalve pressure levels (24) of desired water flow (17) or turn such tothe valve off position (23). Alternatively, when engaged via the controlpanel a signal is sent to the distribution portal (1) via thecommunication encased wiring (12) to the program module (25) whichdictates the valve control through the program valve control (26).Through either method, the water flow originating from the pools pumpingstation flows through the entry housing portal (2) via general waterpiping (11). Based on the level of desired flow selected via thedistribution valve (7) water continues through to the pool accesshousing (3). The pool access housing (3) can be accessed in the pool byopening the housing door (4) which is hinged (29). A grooved receptor(28) allows for the attachment of the PDPS system attachments. Whenwater is moving through the system it is in an operational state. If forsome reason the water flow is stopped, the distribution module (1) flowsensor (27) will initiate a shutdown sequence with the program module(25).

FIG. 3 details the in pool distribution components of the PDPS system.PDPS provides for the users the ability to distribute through tubingtechnology the pressurized water flow to all interchangeable PDPSdevices. Specifically, the water flow (17) which comes out of the poolaccess housing detailed in FIG. 2 continues through flexible watertubing (18) to the desired attachment. This connecting tubing isattached to the pool access housing by utilizing the grooved ends (15)and screwing in the tubing to the grooved receptor. The tubing end (16)provides for the mechanism for creating a watertight attachment. Thisconfiguration of tubing end (16) and grooved end (15) is the same sizefor all attachments and tubing. Depicted is a single tubing, howevermultiple single tubing lengths can be attached to one another. Inaddition, a singular tube can be made to facilitate multiple users ordevice attachments through the use of splitter modules (30). Thesplitter can accommodate a number of users as seen via the quad, triple,and double splitting attachments (30). All of these splitter modules(30) also utilize grooved receptors (28) for connecting the tubing (18).

FIG. 4. Details the dispersion components to styles of attachments. Inorder to utilize any of the attachments, the flow of water (17) beingpressurized in the PDPS distribution portal and coming through theconnecting water flow tubing is then channeled through to thedistribution attachment portal (31). Specifically, the connecting tubingis screwed into the attachment portal (31) via a grooved receptor (28).This is connected to the attachments main distribution splitter (32)which channels the one flow (17) into specific smaller main distributiontubing (34). The main distribution splitter (32) size and complexity isprecedent on the number of required large (38) or small (37) exitnozzles, respectively, the attachment device requires. The maindistribution tubing (34) continues to direct water flow (17) to anetwork of minor distribution splitters (35), which evenly distributesthe desired flow (17) into smaller minor distribution tubing (36). Thesemajor and minor distribution tubes (34, 36) finally deliver the desiredwater flow (17) to the small exit nozzles (37) and large exit nozzles(38). Each exit nozzle has valve technology on the exit portal (20) thatconverts the original flow (17) again into the attachments final exitwater flow (21) out to the user. Such final flow is the mechanism forallowing for the water based exercise, toy /game, and lifestyleattachment experience.

FIGS. 5 (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) Details the different types of attachmentdevices. Each of these attachments receives varied levels of pressurizedwater to facilitate a user's desired experience. Specifically forattachments relating to water based exercise equipment, toys & games,and lifestyle.

For Exercise, PDPS offers a new type of exercising which through thebuoyancy of water allows users of all ages to take part in variousexercise techniques. Water based exercise equipment using propulsionresistance will facilitate aerobic exercises, strength training andcardio vascular techniques. As can be seen in FIGS. 5A, B, C are varioustypes of the exercise products, three of which details are the kickboard attachment (39), a previously depicted exercise bike attachment(19), and a swimming attachment (40). As can be seen from the pictures,each of these devices utilizes a stream of pressured exit water flow(21) in specific directional fashion to create resistance to the userwhile exercising. Such flow can be directional, programmable forduration, and can be increased or decreased to facilitate more intensework outs.

Relating to Toy's/Games, PDPS provides outdoor entertainment options foradults and children through its game/toy category of options. Toysinclude both a hand held product line such as a water gun attachment(40) (detailed as 5D), fire hoses, and an aqua board (41) which pullsthe user either above or below water, and blow up products such as ainflatable ship attachment (42)(detailed as 5E), castles, and a firetruck. The games line would be Carnival based target games, mainstreamgames Tic-Tac-Toe and other original water based challenges. Again, eachof these utilizes a pressurized stream of exit water flow (21) tofacilitate virtually limitless experience.

For Lifestyle—Existing lifestyle furniture and floatation devicescommonly placed next to or into the pool do not incorporate water. Thelifestyle line provides users the flexibility to attach programmablemisting and fountain attachments (43) (detailed as 5F) detailing theexit water flow (21), and various flotation products including, but notlimited to, a spa bed attachment (44) (detailed as 5G) which providesusers an programmable relaxation experience.

Thus, it can be seen that the objects of the PDPS invention have beensatisfied by the modules described in the aforementioned figures anddescriptions. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art orscience to which the invention pertains that the components of thepresent invention can be operated in conjunction with common poolequipment and related technologies. The invention remediates the currentissues with existing pool devices which lack the ability andinterchangeability of attachments which provide programmable on-goingflow of pressurized water.

1. A pool device propulsion system (PDPS) that provides a focused streamof water through a programmable distribution portal that allows users toattach specific interchangeable receiving devices to experience variouson-going water flows through related attachments.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, maintains entry (from pumps) and pool accesshousings in which desired water flow is created and directed to theattachment.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, the PDPS system canbe controlled by either physical valve commonly placed at the edge ofthe said pool area, or via an electronic programmable control panel. 4.The apparatus according to claim 3, PDPS regulates a desired waterpressure pursuant to the user's selection through valve technology. 5.The apparatus according to claim 4, PDPS provides for a receptor forinterchangeable attachments located at the user's desired locationadjacent to or near existing pool machine pumping locations.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 5, PDPS provides for the users ability todistribute through tubing technology the pressurized water flow to allinterchangeable PDPS attachments.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6,PDPS's attachments each maintain a specific receiving/distributionhousing to allow the in flow of pressurized water to enter theattachment.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, PDPS's attachmentportals channel pressurized water through distribution networks for thevaried water flows through nozzle technology that can be set, oraltered, by user.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, PDPS's waterflow is virtually infinite and on-going at the user's discretion. Iflimited, the apparatus maintains a flow sensor to shut down thedistribution module.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, PDPSincludes means for connecting PDPS modules to a power source.
 11. A pooldevice propulsion system that creates an environment that allowsattachments to create resistance through water flow that allows forwater based exercise.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, isprogrammable for exercise for varied levels of user fitness and durationof water flow.
 13. A pool device propulsion system that creates anenvironment that allows attachments to create varies levels of waterflow that allows for water based toys and entertainment.
 14. Theapparatus according to claim 13, is programmable with regards topressure, duration and selective use by user when an attachment has morethan one exit nozzle that releases water flow.